Charlton Campground

Update April 2024:You MUST have reservation.gov reservation to stay. That’s awkward as cell service is very poor at camp.
Located in the Ouachita Mountains, this camp is naturally beautiful. While it’s not on Arkansas’ largest lake, Lake Ouachita, it does connect to the spectacular 40+mile Ouachita Vista Trail for hiking and mountain biking. Walnut Creek, a wide, fast moving creek flows through the camp. Loop A is tent only and bathhouse and porta-potties are closed where they’re most needed. Loop C has FHU and an adequate bathhouse. It has one shower/gender. No lock on women’s shower door. Shower has no temperature control and has push-button start. Every 90 seconds you need to push button. Fortunately temperature is hot enough, but no control on temperature. Pressure is good. This is a gorgeous natural setting.
Site C5 is above Creek but the electric post is in need of repair. 30 amp is wobbly. The water hookup is also wobly/sensitive. Pipe needs support.

We came in around 1pm on Friday and were able to find a spot. It’s first come first serve self pay. We were in loop B with our 38 foot camper. Sites were level and have lots of room between them. Electric and water only. No dump station is open. Almost entirely no cell service with att or Verizon. The rv sites are all in flood zones and that is clearly marked. I wouldn’t stay if it was raining personally. The only road out would be under water if a flood did happen. Loop B is in the lowest lands. Cute little spot to fish with young kids. You can see fish right by the low water bridge. Day use area has access to get in the stream which is mostly only 2-3 foot deep. The loop access the low water bridge does have sewer but sites closer together. Female camp host very rude I won’t go into details. Watch for dead damaged trees because one had recently fallen into our spot. Quite. Trash cans at the road.

We’ve stayed here before. Not far from Hot Springs, good paved roads. Nice level sites. All campsites have gone up to $25/night for both full and partial hookups. Be aware the dump station is still broken not a problem if you are in Loop C with full hookups and they suggest you use an empty site in Loop C to dump your tanks. The problem with that is there were no empty sites the whole time we were there. Beautiful swimming area. We met people who drove over from other Campgrounds and paid the day use fee to swim. They were camping at Debby Point COE and a place called Crystal Springs. Ranger patrols all day and in the evenings checking up as does the campground host. We spent most days down at the swimming area. We camped in a motor home. And we will definitely go back. Sites are not reserved but first come first serve. Two tent areas. I think tent sites are $10/night. Bathhouses are clean and have hot water in showers and flush toilets. Cell service is with AT&T and rarely did I have a signal in the campsite but no problem at the swimming area or down at the bridge.

A national forest campground with a stream and small swimming lake. Mostly RV oriented but we tent camped. The tent sites did not have tent pads and were not flat, the RV sites had level tent pads but they were filled with inch gravel - less than an ideal tent base. We set up our free-standing tent on a smooth asphalt RV pad. Attractive, clean, quiet campground with a host on each loop. Our CG host was extremely friendly and helpful; said he enforced quiet hours. Despite rather crowded sites, we heard nothing but the stream babbling that night. This is as good as it gets in a developed campground.

Site prices vary by amenities: $10 - $22, with $5 discount for Senior passport. The tent sites were $10 (or $5) if you want to sleep on a slope. Camp filled up by 7 pm on a Friday night on a perfect weather April weekend.

No cell coverage by T-Mobile, or I doubt any other.